COVER STORY

UST NSTP: BUILD. EDUCATE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER!

The National Service Training Program is conceptualized primarily to develop students
responsive attitude towards the community as well as to bring about changes in lives of the
barangay constituents by empowering them to be actively involved in all community projects to
be initiated by the students and facilitators/trainers. We were given the opportunity to choose in
any of the two service components offered by University of Santo Tomas - Civic Welfare
Training Service (CWTS) and Literacy Training Service (LTS).
CWTS refers to program or activities contributory to the general welfare and the betterment of
life for the members of the community while LTS is a program designed to train students to
become teachers of literacy and numeracy skills to school children, out of school youth, and
other segments of society in need of their service (R.A. 9163).
During our first term, the mandatory NSTP General Orientation is conducted aimed at providing
the students a better understanding on NSTP as well as giving them an overview and opportunity
for an informed choice for the NSTP components being offered. The UNIK: UST NSTP Ibang
Klase seminar was also done for us to be oriented on our chosen program which is the Civic
Welfare Training Service (CWTS) through inspiring stories of challenges that empower
community service. It also helped us to be acquainted with different kinds of services that one
can do for the community. Disaster Risk Reduction Management was also attended and it is very
informative and helpful especially in addressing the issues of disaster preparedness. It is indeed
important to be knowledgeable about the hazards, vulnerabilities, capacities and actions to be
done in order to assess the capacity and vulnerability of a disaster prone community.
During Term 2, we are equipped with knowledge, skills and values-orientation that enable us to
design short-term community development / literacy projects aligned with Thomasian Social
Development Principles. We spent a maximum of 24 hours doing community services in areas
covered by our partner organizations specifically Sitio Malasa, Tarlac. Unending Race 5 Km Fun
Run was also participated by Thomasian sophomores for the benefit of the chosen charity of our
institution.
In helping out others, let us realize that we can never learn to be brave and strong if in this world
we only have joy and happiness. That is why we have people around us, so that we dont have to
work alone in making this world a better place to live in. We must treasure every moment of our
lives and cherish all the people we meet along the way. After all, the days we spend wont turn
out the same way again.